Really Rambling Rumblings

[Mike Sixel]

These are some random thoughts I had this past week:

The FO won't sign an elite player to a deal for more than a year or two. That puts them out on most elite players. They also won't sign the next tier down. The lone exception in THE HISTORY of the team is Donaldson, and he was traded after two years. 

However, I don't put this on the FO. If EVERY FO acts the same way for the history of your team, it is on the owners that hire them. Need more yachts, y'all.

This FO is different then the Ryan one (and more like the McPhail one), though. This FO will trade prospects for vets. This has worked, and not worked so far. 

I think the FO is about median/average compared to other FOs. On the one had, they are learning on the job. On the other hand, well, the last two years have not been great.

You can have one elite player and two rookies, or two Gallos and a retread RP. I'd prefer the elite player. Good luck signing below average players year after year (no long term deals here) and being right over and over....good luck. Oh, and 10 years from now? 28MM in dead money means you don't sign and average FA. You lose one average FA for three years to sign a great player to a long term deal. I know what I'd prefer.

Teams don't drop ticket prices. They don't save money for next year's budget. They don't have a budget floor (if they don't spend money on players, they don't pass the savings to staff or minor league players). Teams that don't spend pocket money.

A team that has just traded multiple prospects away can't trade for 1 or 2 year rentals, not difference makers. They need their prospects for the future, since they won't sign elite players.

I don't understand why people on this board want to deal prospect(s) for a SS that they hope Lewis replaces in three months or less. Roll with Farmer and if Lewis isn't healthy this year and Lee moves to 3B, then worry about SS next year. They aren't one short term rental SS from being great.

That last sentence is key for me. This team isn't a couple short term players away. Frankly, at this point? Arraez, Kepler, Polanco are all on the trade block. I want prospects or MLB players with 4+ years control for them. If Buxton would go to Miami or Atl or someplace, I'd even deal him at this point. I love Buxton, love him, as a player. But, can you count on him playing even 100 games a year? I realize this is a strange take, and I'm not 100% sure I even agree with it.

I'll be posting my thoughts on the pitching pipeline problem separately, as I don't want that discussion lost here.

Did I mention I'd rather the team have 1 elite or great player and two rookies, than have 2 Gallo types? 

To be clear so a certain poster doesn't misrepresent these thoughts like they always do.....I'm not suggesting building a team in FA. I'm not suggesting FA is the only way to win. I'm suggesting one great FA, like everyone here has. One. 

 

[dxpavelka]

The problem with trading Buxton cuz you can't count on him to play a hundred games is that you leave yourself counting on guys like Kirilloff & Larnach to play a hundred games. 

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

The problem with trading Buxton cuz you can't count on him to play a hundred games is that you leave yourself counting on guys like Kirilloff & Larnach to play a hundred games. 

If only there were more than 1 year left in MLB, and you weren't counting on only that......

[ashbury]

Lot of points to consider. I'll just pick one, that IMO the FO is below average to its peers, and I'm particularly unimpressed with the track record where analytics should have been key, such as deciding to trade significant chips for injury risks.

They try real hard, just like I'm sure Kyle Farmer will try real hard. That doesn't mean replacement should be off the table.

[dxpavelka]

28 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

If only there were more than 1 year left in MLB, and you weren't counting on only that......

Doesn't impact how many games they play.

[Dave The Dastardly]

The much-ballyhooed "pipeline" this FO promised resembles the leaky Keystone "safe" pipeline that just dumped millions of gallons of tar sands oil into Kansas farmland more so than a steady stream of young talent. Swapping prospects that show promise for aging veterans is a major leakage of future talent, thus draining the pipe dream of establishing a team that can contend year after year. Forget signing a "messiah" in free agency, or signing retreads. If the Twins are serious about developing a pipeline they have to play the kids.

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

Doesn't impact how many games they play.

If I'm dealing Buxton, I'm worried about the next 9 years.....not the timeframe those two matter to the roster. But, that's just me. 

[Mike Sixel]

20 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Lot of points to consider. I'll just pick one, that IMO the FO is below average to its peers, and I'm particularly unimpressed with the track record where analytics should have been key, such as deciding to trade significant chips for injury risks.

They try real hard, just like I'm sure Kyle Farmer will try real hard. That doesn't mean replacement should be off the table.

Very fair. I'm just not sure they are below average. 

Detroit, KC, Colo, Pitt, Cincy, LAA come to mind with zero thought. That already puts them no worse than 23rd and I've spent zero seconds considering the rest of the league. 

[dxpavelka]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

If I'm dealing Buxton, I'm worried about the next 9 years.....not the timeframe those two matter to the roster. But, that's just me. 

If you're dealing Buxton you'd be well served to have a succession plan.  Those two have not yet proven worthy of being part of such a plan.

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

If you're dealing Buxton you'd be well served to have a succession plan.  Those two have not yet proven worthy of being part of such a plan.

I have no idea why those two have anything to do with Buxton, frankly. I didn't start this train....

[dxpavelka]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I have no idea why those two have anything to do with Buxton, frankly. I didn't start this train....

Cuz everyone makes such a big deal about the number of games Buxton plays but two years in and Buxton has played more games as either of these two.  AND he's produced enough more than them that he'd be sorely missed if traded.